Well, well, well.
The Halloween season has come to a screeching halt, and Thanksgiving is now upon us. But hey, let’s not lie to ourselves. Why do we have to wait for December to roll around to start binge-watching Christmas movies?
Now is as good a time as ever. And to narrow your search down, I’ve put together a list of what is arguably the Top 10 Christmas movies of all time, so far.
10) Home Alone (1990)
At the time of the movie’s release in 1990, Home Alone would likely rank higher on the list. However, in the past (almost) thirty years, there’s been a great deal of fantastic Christmas movies that have bumped the movie lower in the rankings. Nonetheless, this comedy that follows 8-year-old Kevin McCallister intertwines comedy with the importance of family, especially around the holidays.
9) A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Not only does this cartoon adaptation of Charles M. Schulz’s famous comic strip offer a lighthearted Christmas tale that brings characters like Charlie Brown and Snoopy to life, but it also features a fantastic soundtrack. This cartoon short was scored by Vince Guaraldi, whose music has made A Charlie Brown Christmas a holiday icon.
8) A Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Miracle on 34th Street is the oldest movie on the list by a landslide. However, it has certainly aged well. Rotten Tomatoes gave this film an astounding 96 percent rating, and for good reason too. The film toys with the lure behind Santa Claus, so much so that Santa is taken to court in an attempt to determine his authenticity. Be sure to add this vintage film to your personal list for a trip back to Christmas in the first half of the 20th century.
7) Four Christmases (2008)
Maybe you haven’t heard of this one. The comedy Four Christmases (starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon) was released in 2008. While critical reception has been split, this movie emphasizes the importance of family by telling the story of not one, but four highly dysfunctional families. A must watch that offers a fresh take on the holiday movie genre.
6) A Christmas Story (1983)
A Christmas Story is undoubtedly a holiday classic that has become one of the most iconic Christmas films of all time. What makes this such an entertaining movie is the way that it allows the audience to relate. The story unfolds through the lens of young Ralphie Parker, and his obsession over a Red Ryder BB gun, and whether or not it’ll be under his tree on Christmas morning. Many people can relate to the childhood stresses as to whether or not Santa will bring that one big-ticket gift, and this movie brings anyone who has ever had that feeling back to their childhood.
5) Frosty the Snowman (1969)
As a kid, nothing induced more stress on me than this movie. Frosty’s selflessness of going into a greenhouse to warm Karen up (knowing full well that he would melt) was heartwarming (pun intended). Ultimately, this animated movie has stood the test of time, and remains a classic to this day. A nostalgic must watch.
4) Polar Express (2004)
Arguably one of the more profound Christmas films on the list is none other than The Polar Express. In addition to the superb voice acting by Tom Hanks, the computer-animation is stunning in how realistic it is. The movie follows a young boy whose doubt in Santa Claus has made him lose the magic he once felt in regards to Christmas. However, in a sudden turn of events, he finds himself embarking upon a journey to the North Pole where faith becomes necessary.
3) Elf (2003)
The idea of putting Will Ferrell into an elf costume and tights is hilarious on its own, but this movie doesn’t just rely on that to drive its comedic narrative. Elf has become a Christmas classic since it was first released just over a decade ago and continues to entertain to this day. It takes the premise of ‘a man raised by wolves’ and turns it into ‘a man raised by elves’, which creates an entirely new take on the Christmas genre in a comedic manner.
2) Christmas Vacation (1989)
No doubt the most quotable movie on the list, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation may be one of the funniest movies in the entire holiday genre. Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) desperately wants to create the perfect family Christmas, but things go… well, array, to say the least. The movie can be watched a seemingly endless amount of times and never gets old. If you haven’t seen it, be sure that you do. And if you have seen it, be sure that you do again.
Honorable Mentions:
Batman the Animated Series: Christmas with the Joker
Batman, the Joker, and Christmas? Why not! This entertaining Christmas special has the Dark Knight working over Christmas in order to stop the Joker from wreaking holiday havoc.
Hallmark Movies (All of them)
Sure, Hallmark movies practically have the same plot in every movie. But, no other channel on television plays Christmas movies 24/7 from late October until Christmas day but the Hallmark channel. While they may be cheesy, they’re still enjoyable.
Christmas with the Kranks
A great movie that is very much underrated. Christmas with the Kranks stars Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis who try to avoid celebrating Christmas for a year. Long story short, don’t try to escape Christmas.
1) Rudolph (1964)
Claymation, a whimsical soundtrack, and an underlying message of tolerance and kindness made Rudolph highly advanced for its time. Despite being a kids movie, Rudolph aimed to relay the message that even those who are different than us have value. Rudolph’s physical appearance is significantly different than his peers, Hermey the Elf wants to follow a career path that is atypical for most elves, and the Abominable Snowman came from a foreign land. As a result, these characters are ostracized simply because they are ‘different.’ The show aims to demonstrate that differences shouldn’t divide, it should unite. Rudolph is a nostalgic must watch that embodies the epitome of Christmas while making a clear statement on diversity that was incredibly progressive, not just in the 1960s, but even today.
